Entertainment(x)

Emily Atef (IG:@emily.atef) is a French-Iranian filmmaker born in Berlin. At the age of seven, she moved with her parents and brother to Los Angeles. At the age of thirteen, she settled in the Jura, the land where her mother grew up. Later, she attended a theatre school in London for several years. Finally, she moved to Germany to study filmmaking at the German Film Academy in Berlin. Her first feature film, MOLLY'S WAY, like her next two films, was co-written by Esther Bernstorff and won the Best Screenplay Award at the Munich Film Festival in 2005 Munich Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize at the Mar del Plata Film Festival as well as several other awards. His second feature film, THE STRANGER IN ME, about a young mother suffering from postnatal depression, had its world premiere at the Critics' Week in Cannes and won several awarded several times. She was offered a grant from the Cannes Film Festival's Cinéfondation to write TUE-MOI. The film was voted Best Foreign Language Drama at the Bradford Film Festival 2013. In 2017, Emily Atef wrote and directed the feature film THREE DAYS IN QUIBERON. It depicts three emotional days of Romy Schneider during which she gave her last German interview to STERN magazine. THREE DAYS IN QUIBERON was in competition at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival and won 7 Lolas at the German Film Academy Awards Night 2018, including Best Film and Best Director.

Marc Turtletaub (bigbeach.com) has been a producer for over twenty years with two production companies, including Big Beach which he co-founded in 2004. He is also a director, whose most recent film, Jules, is now streaming.

Get Duany's (gerduany.com) childhood was marked by adversity on a skill that is difficult to imagine, but he has succeeded in healing some of the pain.  With close family members currently displaced inside South Sudan and in refugee camps in neighboring countries, Ger has dedicated his time to ongoing an intense humanitarian efforts.  He has committed himself to becoming one of the voices for the people of south Sudan, even as refugee and migrant have taken central states globally in the wake of unprecedented populations flows, from the middle east to Europe.  Ger spends his time educating people all around the world, on refugee crisis.  He also visits refugee camps in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia, interacting with fellow South Sudanese and refugees of mixed nationalities, exchanging experiences and ideals.  Ger is a true communicator with an eloquent voice, which allows audience  to feel his passion, he shares for the people of South Sudan.  He brings intrinsic authenticity to any discourse on the condition and experience of refugees.Ger's rise from a herds boy in the grasslands of South Sudan, to his experiences in Sudan's brutal Civil War, to the sheer effort that acquired him a college education, and enabling him to become an actor, fashion model and a writer, enable him to tell his story with his heart and soul, irrespective of the audience before him.

Estefanía Fadul (estefaniafadul.com) is a Colombian-born, New Hampshire-raised, NYC-based director and creative producer with a passion for new work. Recent directing includes the world premieres of Eva Luna adapted by Caridad Svich from the novel by Isabel Allende (Repertorio Español), The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle (Philadelphia Theatre Company), The Same Day by Stefan Ivanov (Sfumato Theatre, Bulgaria), Scissoring by C. Quintana (INTAR), and the Drama League-nominated Carla's Quince, which she conceived and developed with The Voting Project Ensemble to mobilize Latiné voters to the polls. She has developed new plays and musicals off-Broadway and regionally at the Public Theater, Chautauqua, Latinx Playwrights Circle, Playwrights' Realm, NYTW, Audible, Goodspeed, Long Wharf, Juilliard, and more. She was on the producing team for Soho Rep.'s first all-ages, site-specific show Washeteria, and is a co-producer on the upcoming world premiere of Raquel Almazan's La Paloma Prisoner. Estefanía is a member of the leadership circle of the Center for Performance and Civic Practice (CPCP), the Drama League Board of Directors, Latinx Theatre Commons advisory committee, Lincoln Center Directors Lab, and SDC. She was the 2020 recipient of New York Stage and Film's Pfaelzer Award, is a New Georges Affiliated Artist, and an alumna of the Advocacy and Leadership Institutes of the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, the Drama League Directors Project, O'Neill/NNPN National Directors Fellowship, Clubbed Thumb Directing Fellowship, Civilians' R&D Group, Foeller Fellowship at Williamstown, and Van Lier Fellowship at Repertorio Español. She has a B.A. from Vassar College, where she co-founded Idlewild Theatre Ensemble to create and uplift work by women/fem-aligning artists.

Luke Yankee (yankeehillproductions.com)(IG:@lukebyankee)is a playwright, director, author, producer, actor, and teacher. He has assistant directed six Broadway shows, run two regional theatres,and  directed, produced, performed and taught all over the world.  His latest play, MARILYN, MOM & ME is the recipient of the Stanley Award and will receive its world premiere on the west coast in February of 2024.  

Ariana Sarfarazi (she/her) (LI:@arianasarfarazi)(IG:@sarfariana) is a transactional entertainment attorney specializing in theater, a theater producer, and the Executive Director of Noor Theatre, a NYC-based non-profit theatre with the mission of supporting, developing, and producing the work of artists of Middle Eastern, North African, and Southwest Asian descent. As a theatrical attorney, Ariana represents producers and investors in the development, production, and financing of live stage productions; counsels not-for-profit theater companies and related theatrical organizations; and advises a wide range of creative talent including Tony Award-winning bookwriters, composers, lyricists, directors, choreographers, and actors. As an Executive Director, Ariana leads overall operations at Noor, including programming, fundraising, and financial planning— in addition to overseeing the theatre company's strategic planning, developing institutional partnerships, managing Board relations, and leading operational support for the rest of the team. Once a proud “theatre kid” herself, Ariana is passionate about marrying her legal education with her deep-rooted love of the arts and social justice to support an evolving industry. Ariana serves on the board of Broadway for Arts Education, a nonprofit organization that uses arts education to dismantle systemic barriers to success for underserved youth, is a member of Theatre Producers of Color (TPOC), and is proud to serve as a volunteer pro bono attorney with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. She is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and The George Washington University Law School. 

Liz Carlson (elizabethjcarlson.com) is an NYC-based creative producer and director committed to the development of new stories. Prior to stepping in as Interim Artistic Director, Liz produced and directed with NYSAF in various capacities over the past 15 years, notably as the full-time Artistic Producer for the past seven, supporting artists such as César Alvarez, Jaki Bradley, Lyndsey Bourne, Lily Houghton, Keelay Gipson, Jessica Huang, Melissa Li & Kit Yan, Don Nguyen, Brian Quijada & Nygel D. Robinson, Kirya Traber, Lauren Yee, and hundreds more. Liz also served as the Artistic Director for the new works incubator Naked Angels from 2013-2016. As a director, Liz has developed plays and musicals with Ars Nova, The Dramatists' Guild, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Flea, Keen Company, Manhattan School of Music, Manhattan Theatre Club, The New Group, Playwrights Horizons, The Playwrights Realm, Signature Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and more. Upcoming directing projects include a new-play workshop with Minita Gandhi at Berkeley Rep's The Ground Floor, and the final installment of a musical podcast with the Drama Desk-nominated folk band The Lobbyists. MFA The New School for the Performing Arts, Drama. Recipient of The Drama League Fellowship. 

Matthew McLachlan (matthewmclachlan.com)(IG:@19martymcfly85) was born in Scotland, raised in Florida, and currently survives in New York City. He is a Dramatist Guild Member, a two-time ScreenCraft Stage Play Finalist, and Samuel French OOB Festival Finalist. His plays include: The Demand of Avarice, This God Damn House, Jack & Melissa, Orion, and The Place We Are Meant to Be, among others. His plays have been presented by Abingdon Theatre Company, The Chain Theatre, Nylon Fusion, The NOW Collective, The Farm Theater, The PIT, Thespis Theater Festival, and performed regionally in Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, New Jersey, West Virginia, & Florida. Other credits include: Nominated for Best Writer of a Web-Series (ADULTish), The Roast of Michael Musto (Head-Writer), & his published works A Collection of One-Acts & Other Things You May or May Not Enjoy and full-length play Orion are available now at The Drama Bookshop and on Amazon.  

Kate Cohen (IG:@katecohendavis)(LI:@kate-cohen) is an award-winning director, producer, and entrepreneur with two decades of experience leading high-profile projects from inception to completion. She is a creative producer with a long track record of business development, raising financing from some of the most powerful entrepreneurs across the globe, and developing and packaging projects with A-list talent. As Founder of KCD Media, she produces films with Hollywood's elite players, including Natalie Portman, Johnny Depp, Christopher Nolan, and Spike Lee, among many others. Cohen is also a lifelong advocate for youth mental health and has mentored countless young girls, inspiring resilience and success. Cohen recently Co-Founded Straight Up Impact, whose mission is to create commercial films that move audiences to enact social change. Prior to KCD Media, Cohen co-founded Straight Up Films, in partnership with David Boies, and had a successful 14 year run as co-CEO. Her current slate includes Joseph Merrick, based on the life of “the Elephant Man” to be directed by Rupert Sanders; Man's Search for Meaning, a film adaptation of Viktor Frankl's best-selling memoir; a compelling docu-series addressing systemic causes of the youth mental health crisis; and several other film and TV projects in varying stages of development with high-level talent. Kate has also recently established herself as an award-winning director for the film LUNA, which will be released in 2023. Kate wants to empower the next generation of filmmakers and has recently created the 8-week course “How to Close a Deal in Hollywood” to share her hard-won knowledge from nearly two decades working with the best in the business. More info can be found at: MasterCourseHollywood.com. 

Joe Rosko (builtforthestage.com) (IG:@builtforthestage) is the founder and CEO of Built For The Stage, Broadway's #1 online fitness training platform. In the past six years, Built For The Stage has had clients represented in over 50 Broadway shows and on international stages around the globe! Rosko began his professional career as a trainer and actor at the exact same time in 2007. Since then, it has been his mission to build a bridge between the worlds of fitness and theatre. Rosko believed that actors were truly professional athletes but didn't feel as though the theatre community was equipped with the proper resources to train like said athletes. This realization led to the creation of Built for the Stage.  Built For The Stage is an interactive and personalized online fitness training program utilized by a worldwide family of actors with the common goal of bettering their fitness so that their abilities on stage can come to complete fruition. Rosko and his coaches pride themselves in having the unique abilities to continue a performer's fitness progress while being in or out of a show. All professional athletes train a certain way while in season or out of season, and with actors it's no different. Actors are athletes, and thus, they should train like one.  BFTS clients can currently be seen in 21 Broadway shows, 15 West End productions, national and international tours, and collegiate theatre programs. Rosko and his team have also trained The Rockettes, NFL football players, and professional CrossFit athletes.  Rosko is the creator and host of the Built For The Stage podcast. With over 200 episodes to date, the podcast features inspiring stories of the raw struggles of how Broadway stars chased their dreams. BFTS is a proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network and is available on all streaming platforms.. In addition to Built for the Stage, Rosko owns a CrossFit training brand called Move Fast Lift Heavy with partner, Christian Harris. Move Fast Lift Heavy has training clients in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Australia. They have had numerous athletes of theirs compete at the CrossFit Games (the Olympics of CrossFit).

Joe Rosko (builtforthestage.com) (IG:@builtforthestage) is the founder and CEO of Built For The Stage, Broadway's #1 online fitness training platform. In the past six years, Built For The Stage has had clients represented in over 50 Broadway shows and on international stages around the globe! Rosko began his professional career as a trainer and actor at the exact same time in 2007. Since then, it has been his mission to build a bridge between the worlds of fitness and theatre. Rosko believed that actors were truly professional athletes but didn't feel as though the theatre community was equipped with the proper resources to train like said athletes. This realization led to the creation of Built for the Stage.  Built For The Stage is an interactive and personalized online fitness training program utilized by a worldwide family of actors with the common goal of bettering their fitness so that their abilities on stage can come to complete fruition. Rosko and his coaches pride themselves in having the unique abilities to continue a performer's fitness progress while being in or out of a show. All professional athletes train a certain way while in season or out of season, and with actors it's no different. Actors are athletes, and thus, they should train like one.  BFTS clients can currently be seen in 21 Broadway shows, 15 West End productions, national and international tours, and collegiate theatre programs. Rosko and his team have also trained The Rockettes, NFL football players, and professional CrossFit athletes.  Rosko is the creator and host of the Built For The Stage podcast. With over 200 episodes to date, the podcast features inspiring stories of the raw struggles of how Broadway stars chased their dreams. BFTS is a proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network and is available on all streaming platforms.. In addition to Built for the Stage, Rosko owns a CrossFit training brand called Move Fast Lift Heavy with partner, Christian Harris. Move Fast Lift Heavy has training clients in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Australia. They have had numerous athletes of theirs compete at the CrossFit Games (the Olympics of CrossFit).

Bryce Pinkham (IG:@thebrycecapades)(TW:@TheBryceCapades) is a Grammy and Tony-nominated American stage and screen actor. He is perhaps best known for originating the role of “Monty Navarro” in the Broadway production of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. The performance earned him a Grammy nomination, as well as a Tony nomination for “Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical.” Bryce played this role on Broadway for more than 700 performances, and the show was named “Best Musical of 2014.” Bryce went on to star in the Broadway revival of The Heidi Chronicles as “Peter Patrone,” for which he was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award, as well as the Drama League Award for “Distinguished Performance” in 2015. In the fall of 2016, he returned to Broadway, leading the cast of Roundabout Theater and Universal Pictures's Holiday Inn, performing in the role originally played by Bing Crosby in the classic 1942 movie. Bryce also originated roles in Ghost the Musical and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson on Broadway. Recent film and television appearances include performances in the Robert DeNiro comedy The Comedian and Baz Lurman's Netflix drama The Get Down, as well as a regular role in the PBS series Mercy Street. Bryce has also appeared on The Good Wife, Person of Interest, and the PBS miniseries God in America. In 2012, Bryce was awarded the prestigious Leonore Annenberg Fellowship, which is given to “a limited number of exceptionally talented young dancers, musicians, actors and visual artists as they complete their training and begin their professional life.” In 2012, Bryce and fellow actor Lucas Caleb Rooney co-founded Zara Aina, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping at-risk children expand their capacity for achievement through theatrical performance and storytelling. Lucas and Bryce regularly travel to Madagascar to help empower at-risk students through theatrical storytelling techniques and performance and provide them with much-needed medical and educational assistance. Bryce also performs regularly with the theater company Outside the Wire, which takes performances of Greek tragedy to American military audiences around the world to foster discussion about PTSD and soldier suicide. Bryce is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and Boston College.

Bryce Pinkham (IG:@thebrycecapades)(TW:@TheBryceCapades) is a Grammy and Tony-nominated American stage and screen actor. He is perhaps best known for originating the role of “Monty Navarro” in the Broadway production of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. The performance earned him a Grammy nomination, as well as a Tony nomination for “Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical.” Bryce played this role on Broadway for more than 700 performances, and the show was named “Best Musical of 2014.” Bryce went on to star in the Broadway revival of The Heidi Chronicles as “Peter Patrone,” for which he was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award, as well as the Drama League Award for “Distinguished Performance” in 2015. In the fall of 2016, he returned to Broadway, leading the cast of Roundabout Theater and Universal Pictures's Holiday Inn, performing in the role originally played by Bing Crosby in the classic 1942 movie. Bryce also originated roles in Ghost the Musical and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson on Broadway. Recent film and television appearances include performances in the Robert DeNiro comedy The Comedian and Baz Lurman's Netflix drama The Get Down, as well as a regular role in the PBS series Mercy Street. Bryce has also appeared on The Good Wife, Person of Interest, and the PBS miniseries God in America. In 2012, Bryce was awarded the prestigious Leonore Annenberg Fellowship, which is given to “a limited number of exceptionally talented young dancers, musicians, actors and visual artists as they complete their training and begin their professional life.” In 2012, Bryce and fellow actor Lucas Caleb Rooney co-founded Zara Aina, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping at-risk children expand their capacity for achievement through theatrical performance and storytelling. Lucas and Bryce regularly travel to Madagascar to help empower at-risk students through theatrical storytelling techniques and performance and provide them with much-needed medical and educational assistance. Bryce also performs regularly with the theater company Outside the Wire, which takes performances of Greek tragedy to American military audiences around the world to foster discussion about PTSD and soldier suicide. Bryce is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and Boston College.

Richard Maltby, Jr. includes among his Broadway credits: Conceived/directed AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' (1978 Tony, NY Drama Critics, Outer Critics and Drama Desk Awards. Also Tony Award for Best Director); FOSSE (1999 Tony, Outer Critics and Drama Desk Awards). Lyricist: MISS SAIGON (Evening Standard Award 1990, Tony Nomination for Best Score 1991). Director and co-lyricist of Andrew Lloyd Webber's SONG & DANCE, 1986 (Tony Award for star Bernadette Peters). With composer David Shire: director/lyricist BABY, 1983 (book by Sybille Pearson; seven Tony Award nominations); Lyricist: BIG, 1996 (book by John Weidman. Tony nomination: Best Score).Off-Broadway credits: director/lyricist STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW, 1977 (Grammy Award nomination); CLOSER THAN EVER, 1989 (Outer Critics Circle Awards: Best Musical, Best Score). Contributes devilish crossword puzzles to Harpers Magazine. Son of well-known orchestra leader; married to Janet Brenner; five children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily and Charlotte.

Richard Maltby, Jr. includes among his Broadway credits: Conceived/directed AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' (1978 Tony, NY Drama Critics, Outer Critics and Drama Desk Awards. Also Tony Award for Best Director); FOSSE (1999 Tony, Outer Critics and Drama Desk Awards). Lyricist: MISS SAIGON (Evening Standard Award 1990, Tony Nomination for Best Score 1991). Director and co-lyricist of Andrew Lloyd Webber's SONG & DANCE, 1986 (Tony Award for star Bernadette Peters). With composer David Shire: director/lyricist BABY, 1983 (book by Sybille Pearson; seven Tony Award nominations); Lyricist: BIG, 1996 (book by John Weidman. Tony nomination: Best Score).Off-Broadway credits: director/lyricist STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW, 1977 (Grammy Award nomination); CLOSER THAN EVER, 1989 (Outer Critics Circle Awards: Best Musical, Best Score). Contributes devilish crossword puzzles to Harpers Magazine. Son of well-known orchestra leader; married to Janet Brenner; five children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily and Charlotte.

Alan Menken (alanmenken.com)(IG:@alanmenken) is known for his music on stage and screen, he is noted for his multiple works with the Walt Disney company (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin), as well as Broadway stage musicals Sister Act and Little Shop of Horrors. With eight Academy Awards, Alan has received more Oscars than any living person, and is the recipient of numerous other awards including Golden Globes, Grammys, Drama Desk Awards, and a Tony Award.

Alan Menken (alanmenken.com)(IG:@alanmenken) is known for his music on stage and screen, he is noted for his multiple works with the Walt Disney company (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin), as well as Broadway stage musicals Sister Act and Little Shop of Horrors. With eight Academy Awards, Alan has received more Oscars than any living person, and is the recipient of numerous other awards including Golden Globes, Grammys, Drama Desk Awards, and a Tony Award.

Lamar Richardson (lamarrichardson.com)(IG:@lamarrichardson_) is an actor and producer born in New Brunswick, N.J., who was raised in Charlotte, N.C. Acting credits include Phylicia Rashad's production of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Weird City, Black Terror, Straight Up, and New Amsterdam. Richardson will make his Broadway debut as co-producer in the upcoming revival of Death of a Salesman at the Hudson Theatre. He is currently producing Afrika Brown's play The Fight, and has co-founded Ivy Lion Productions, an independent production company that centers underrepresented voices and champions empowering stories. Richardson holds a B.A. from Columbia.

Lamar Richardson (lamarrichardson.com)(IG:@lamarrichardson_) is an actor and producer born in New Brunswick, N.J., who was raised in Charlotte, N.C. Acting credits include Phylicia Rashad's production of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Weird City, Black Terror, Straight Up, and New Amsterdam. Richardson will make his Broadway debut as co-producer in the upcoming revival of Death of a Salesman at the Hudson Theatre. He is currently producing Afrika Brown's play The Fight, and has co-founded Ivy Lion Productions, an independent production company that centers underrepresented voices and champions empowering stories. Richardson holds a B.A. from Columbia.

Eric Nelsen (IG:@ericnelsenofficial)(buckingbullbourbon.com) is a 4x Emmy Award Winning, Drama Desk Award Winning, Drama League Award Winning and Outer Critic Circle Award Winning actor and producer. His Broadway credits include producing THE INHERITANCE (Laurence Olivier Award Winner - Best New Play) and starring in the cult hit, 13 THE MUSICAL alongside Ariana Grande. He was recently seen on the big screen in NIGHTMARE CINEMA, opposite Academy Award Nominee Mickey Rourke, as well as A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES opposite Academy Award Nominee Liam Neeson. Notable work includes WAKEFIELD starring Bryan Cranston and Jennifer Garner, a recurring role in Showtime's THE AFFAIR, and starring in the New Group production of THE GOOD MOTHER opposite Gretchen Mol.

Eric Nelsen (IG:@ericnelsenofficial)(buckingbullbourbon.com) is a 4x Emmy Award Winning, Drama Desk Award Winning, Drama League Award Winning and Outer Critic Circle Award Winning actor and producer. His Broadway credits include producing THE INHERITANCE (Laurence Olivier Award Winner - Best New Play) and starring in the cult hit, 13 THE MUSICAL alongside Ariana Grande. He was recently seen on the big screen in NIGHTMARE CINEMA, opposite Academy Award Nominee Mickey Rourke, as well as A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES opposite Academy Award Nominee Liam Neeson. Notable work includes WAKEFIELD starring Bryan Cranston and Jennifer Garner, a recurring role in Showtime's THE AFFAIR, and starring in the New Group production of THE GOOD MOTHER opposite Gretchen Mol.

Stephen Schwartz (stephenschwartz.com) was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School of Music while in high school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a B.F.A. in Drama. Upon coming back to live in New York City, he went to work as an A&R producer for RCA Records, but shortly thereafter began to work in the Broadway theatre. His first major credit was the title song for the play BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE; the song was eventually used in the movie version as well. In 1971, he wrote the music and new lyrics for GODSPELL, for which he won two Grammys among other awards. This was followed by the English texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, for Bernstein's MASS, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for PIPPIN, and two years later, THE MAGIC SHOW. At one point, GODSPELL, PIPPIN and THE MAGIC SHOW were all running on Broadway simultaneously. He next wrote the music and lyrics for THE BAKER'S WIFE, followed by a musical version of Studs Terkel's WORKING, to which he contributed four songs and which he also adapted and directed, winning a Drama Desk Award as best director. He also co-directed the television production, which was presented as part of the PBS “American Playhouse” series. Other work for the musical theatre includes lyrics to RAGS (music by Charles Strouse), music and lyrics for CHILDREN OF EDEN, and two musicals produced overseas, MIT EVENTYR (MY FAIRY TALE) in Denmark and SCHIKANEDER in Austria.  He has also written songs for two musicals for young audiences, CAPTAIN LOUIE and MY SON, PINOCCHIO.  Compilation revues of his work include SNAPSHOTS and, for Princess Cruise Lines, MAGIC TO DO. For film, he collaborated with composer Alan Menken on the songs for Disney's POCAHONTAS, for which he received two Academy Awards and another Grammy, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and ENCHANTED. He also provided songs for DreamWorks' first animated feature, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, for which he won another Academy Award for the song “When You Believe.”   THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and THE PRINCE OF EGYPT have both been adapted for the stage. Mr. Schwartz's most recent stage musical, WICKED, opened in the fall of 2003 and is currently running on Broadway and in several other productions around the world. He received another Grammy for the cast recording, and in 2008, WICKED reached its 1900th performance on Broadway, making Mr. Schwartz the only songwriter in Broadway history ever to have three shows run more than 1900 performances. His first opera, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON, premiered at Opera Santa Barbara in the fall of 2009 and was subsequently produced by New York City Opera.  His frequently-performed choral works include “Testimony”, based on the It Gets Better Project, “Keramos” and part of the “Tyler Clemente Suite.”  He has also released two singer/songwriter CDs, RELUCTANT PILGRIM and UNCHARTED TERRITORY. Mr. Schwartz has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  In 2015, he received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for his humanitarian and mentorship contributions to the theatre.  A book about his career, “Defying Gravity,” has been released by Applause Books. Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he has been the artistic director of musical theatre workshops in New York and Los Angeles for over twenty years, as well as conducting workshops for aspiring musical theatre writers and performers in countries around the world, including Australia, Germany, Latvia and Kenya.  He is also a past President and current Council Member of the Dramatists' Guild.

Stephen Schwartz (stephenschwartz.com) was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School of Music while in high school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a B.F.A. in Drama. Upon coming back to live in New York City, he went to work as an A&R producer for RCA Records, but shortly thereafter began to work in the Broadway theatre. His first major credit was the title song for the play BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE; the song was eventually used in the movie version as well. In 1971, he wrote the music and new lyrics for GODSPELL, for which he won two Grammys among other awards. This was followed by the English texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, for Bernstein's MASS, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for PIPPIN, and two years later, THE MAGIC SHOW. At one point, GODSPELL, PIPPIN and THE MAGIC SHOW were all running on Broadway simultaneously. He next wrote the music and lyrics for THE BAKER'S WIFE, followed by a musical version of Studs Terkel's WORKING, to which he contributed four songs and which he also adapted and directed, winning a Drama Desk Award as best director. He also co-directed the television production, which was presented as part of the PBS “American Playhouse” series. Other work for the musical theatre includes lyrics to RAGS (music by Charles Strouse), music and lyrics for CHILDREN OF EDEN, and two musicals produced overseas, MIT EVENTYR (MY FAIRY TALE) in Denmark and SCHIKANEDER in Austria.  He has also written songs for two musicals for young audiences, CAPTAIN LOUIE and MY SON, PINOCCHIO.  Compilation revues of his work include SNAPSHOTS and, for Princess Cruise Lines, MAGIC TO DO. For film, he collaborated with composer Alan Menken on the songs for Disney's POCAHONTAS, for which he received two Academy Awards and another Grammy, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and ENCHANTED. He also provided songs for DreamWorks' first animated feature, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, for which he won another Academy Award for the song “When You Believe.”   THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and THE PRINCE OF EGYPT have both been adapted for the stage. Mr. Schwartz's most recent stage musical, WICKED, opened in the fall of 2003 and is currently running on Broadway and in several other productions around the world. He received another Grammy for the cast recording, and in 2008, WICKED reached its 1900th performance on Broadway, making Mr. Schwartz the only songwriter in Broadway history ever to have three shows run more than 1900 performances. His first opera, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON, premiered at Opera Santa Barbara in the fall of 2009 and was subsequently produced by New York City Opera.  His frequently-performed choral works include “Testimony”, based on the It Gets Better Project, “Keramos” and part of the “Tyler Clemente Suite.”  He has also released two singer/songwriter CDs, RELUCTANT PILGRIM and UNCHARTED TERRITORY. Mr. Schwartz has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  In 2015, he received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for his humanitarian and mentorship contributions to the theatre.  A book about his career, “Defying Gravity,” has been released by Applause Books. Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he has been the artistic director of musical theatre workshops in New York and Los Angeles for over twenty years, as well as conducting workshops for aspiring musical theatre writers and performers in countries around the world, including Australia, Germany, Latvia and Kenya.  He is also a past President and current Council Member of the Dramatists' Guild.

Annabeth Gish (IG:@annabeth_gish)(TW:@annabethgish) who is currently in Succession is a versatile actress who weathered the transition from child actor to adult, with a variety of dramatic and comedic roles on film and television. Anne Elizabeth Gish was born on March 13, 1971 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and moved with her family to Cedar Falls, at the age of two. Her parents were both teachers; her father, Robert Gish, was an English professor at the University of Northern Iowa, her mother, Judy, taught at Malcolm Price Laboratory School. Performing in community theater productions throughout her childhood, Gish began her professional acting career, at the age of eight, by appearing in a number of commercials. She made her screen debut, at the age of 13, in the teen film, Desert Bloom (1986), opposite Jon Voight, and, in following years, has found success in film and television. Gish starred in the films, Hiding Out (1987), with Jon Cryer, Mystic Pizza (1988), with Julia Roberts, and on Shag(1988), opposite Phoebe Cates and Bridget Fonda. She also played the lead role, as rape victim "Lyn McKenna", in the TV movie, When He's Not a Stranger (1989). Gish went on to graduate from Cedar Falls' Northern University High School in 1989. In addition to acting, Gish took time to focus on her academic career and attended Duke University. Studying English as well as theater, she graduated with honors, in 1993, with a BA in English. Gish returned to screens in the mid-1990s, with appearances in supporting roles, in films Wyatt Earp (1994), The Last Supper (1995) and critical praise biopic, Nixon (1995). The next year, Gish appeared in the ensemble cast movie, Beautiful Girls (1996). On television, Gish played the younger sister of Dana Delany's character in True Women(1997), a epic miniseries, based on the best seller novel by Janice Woods Windle. Her other credits include the miniseries, Scarlett (1994), the short-lived Patricia Wettig's drama series Courthouse (1995), the box office bomb superhero film, Steel (1997), a supporting role on Ashley Judd's success thriller, Double Jeopardy (1999), and several other independent films. Most recently, Gish played "Special Agent Monica Reyes" on the cult series, The X-Files(1993) (2001-2002), for which she was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television. She also starred in the Showtime drama, Brotherhood(2006) (2006-2008) and appeared in recurring roles on The West Wing (1999) (2003-2006), Flashforward (2009) (2010), Pretty Little Liars (2010) (2011-2012) and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) (2011-2012). In 2012, she starred on the ABC drama series, Americana (2012), as Ashley Greene's character's mother.

Annabeth Gish (IG:@annabeth_gish)(TW:@annabethgish) who is currently in Succession is a versatile actress who weathered the transition from child actor to adult, with a variety of dramatic and comedic roles on film and television. Anne Elizabeth Gish was born on March 13, 1971 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and moved with her family to Cedar Falls, at the age of two. Her parents were both teachers; her father, Robert Gish, was an English professor at the University of Northern Iowa, her mother, Judy, taught at Malcolm Price Laboratory School. Performing in community theater productions throughout her childhood, Gish began her professional acting career, at the age of eight, by appearing in a number of commercials. She made her screen debut, at the age of 13, in the teen film, Desert Bloom (1986), opposite Jon Voight, and, in following years, has found success in film and television. Gish starred in the films, Hiding Out (1987), with Jon Cryer, Mystic Pizza (1988), with Julia Roberts, and on Shag(1988), opposite Phoebe Cates and Bridget Fonda. She also played the lead role, as rape victim "Lyn McKenna", in the TV movie, When He's Not a Stranger (1989). Gish went on to graduate from Cedar Falls' Northern University High School in 1989. In addition to acting, Gish took time to focus on her academic career and attended Duke University. Studying English as well as theater, she graduated with honors, in 1993, with a BA in English. Gish returned to screens in the mid-1990s, with appearances in supporting roles, in films Wyatt Earp (1994), The Last Supper (1995) and critical praise biopic, Nixon (1995). The next year, Gish appeared in the ensemble cast movie, Beautiful Girls (1996). On television, Gish played the younger sister of Dana Delany's character in True Women(1997), a epic miniseries, based on the best seller novel by Janice Woods Windle. Her other credits include the miniseries, Scarlett (1994), the short-lived Patricia Wettig's drama series Courthouse (1995), the box office bomb superhero film, Steel (1997), a supporting role on Ashley Judd's success thriller, Double Jeopardy (1999), and several other independent films. Most recently, Gish played "Special Agent Monica Reyes" on the cult series, The X-Files(1993) (2001-2002), for which she was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television. She also starred in the Showtime drama, Brotherhood(2006) (2006-2008) and appeared in recurring roles on The West Wing (1999) (2003-2006), Flashforward (2009) (2010), Pretty Little Liars (2010) (2011-2012) and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) (2011-2012). In 2012, she starred on the ABC drama series, Americana (2012), as Ashley Greene's character's mother.

Celia Keenan-Bolger (IG:@celiakb)(TW:@celiakb) is currently in The Gilded Age on HBO. She was born on January 26, 1978 in Detroit, Michigan and is a Tony Award winner and Broadway favorite. Celia Keenan-Bolger will return to To Kill a Mockingbird at the Shubert Theatre from October 5, 2021. Keenan-Bolger trained at both the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and the Detroit School of Arts and graduated from the University of Michigan with a BFA in musical theatre. She began her stage career in regional theatres such as the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and Theatre Works in Silicon Valley, and she made her Off-Broadway debut as Aggie in Summer of '42 in December 2001. During the Kennedy Center's Sondheim Celebration in 2002, she starred as Johanna in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and she would then perform again off Broadway in January 2003 in Second Stage Theatre's production of Michael John LaChiusa's Little Fish. Also in 2003, she would originate the role of Clara Johnson in the celebrated musical The Light in the Piazza at both Seattle's Intiman Theatre and Chicago's Goodman Theatre. She originated the role of Olive Ostrovsky in William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Barrington Stage Company in the summer of 2004, reprised her performance off Broadway at Second Stage Theatre in January 2005, and did so again on Broadway, marking her Broadway debut in April 2005. She was nominated for her first Tony Award for her performance as Olive and received a Theatre World Award and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. She remained with the production until September 17, 2006. Her next Broadway venture would be to originate the role of Éponine in the 2006 revival of Les Misérables, playing the role from October 2006 to January 2008, earning a Drama Desk nomination in 2007. Keenan-Bolger returned off Broadway for her next productions, starring as Mary in the musical Saved at Playwrights Horizons from May to June 2008, as Katie in Bachelorette for Second Stage Theatre from July to August 2010, and as Jenny Bridges in A Small Fire from December 2010 to January 2011, once again at Playwrights Horizons. She then landed the role of Molly in New York Theatre Workshop's acclaimed production of Peter and the Starcatcher, which played the Off-Broadway venue from February to April 2011, resulting in yet another Drama Desk Award nomination, and transferred to Broadway in March 2012, leading to her second Tony Award nomination. Ahead of the Broadway premiere, Keenan-Bolger also starred as Mary Flynn in New York City Center's Encores! production of Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along in February 2012. In the fall of 2013, she took on the role of Laura Wingfield in the Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie from September 2013 to February 2014. She garnered great acclaim for her performance, winning a Drama Desk Award, earning her third Tony Award nomination, and receiving the Theatre World Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in 2014. Keenan-Bolger followed this performance with her Lincoln Center Theater debut, starring as Mother in an Off-Broadway production of Sarah Ruhl's The Oldest Boy from October to December 2014. She was next seen on Broadway as Varya, opposite Diane Lane, in Roundabout Theatre Company's 2016 revival of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, and she was last seen off Broadway in Second Stage Theatre's 2017 production of A Parallelogram.  Keenan-Bolger returned to Broadway on November 1, 2018, taking on the role of Scout in Aaron Sorkin's new stage adaptation of the classic Harper Lee novel To Kill a Mockingbird. She won her first Tony Award in the category of Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Play for her portrayal, and she ended her year-long run in the production on November 3, 2019. She leads the reopening cast of the play once more starting in October 2021. Although primarily known for her career on stage, Ms. Keenan-Bolger has also appeared in a number of high-profile television shows over the years, including Law & Order (2007), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2014), Nurse Jackie (2014), The Good Wife (2015), Elementary (2015), Good Behavior (2016), Blue Bloods (2017), NCIS: New Orleans (2017), and Bull (2018). Her film credits include Mariachi Gringo (2012), The Visit (2015), Breakable You (2017), and Diane (2018).

Celia Keenan-Bolger (IG:@celiakb)(TW:@celiakb) is currently in The Gilded Age on HBO. She was born on January 26, 1978 in Detroit, Michigan and is a Tony Award winner and Broadway favorite. Celia Keenan-Bolger will return to To Kill a Mockingbird at the Shubert Theatre from October 5, 2021. Keenan-Bolger trained at both the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and the Detroit School of Arts and graduated from the University of Michigan with a BFA in musical theatre. She began her stage career in regional theatres such as the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and Theatre Works in Silicon Valley, and she made her Off-Broadway debut as Aggie in Summer of '42 in December 2001. During the Kennedy Center's Sondheim Celebration in 2002, she starred as Johanna in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and she would then perform again off Broadway in January 2003 in Second Stage Theatre's production of Michael John LaChiusa's Little Fish. Also in 2003, she would originate the role of Clara Johnson in the celebrated musical The Light in the Piazza at both Seattle's Intiman Theatre and Chicago's Goodman Theatre. She originated the role of Olive Ostrovsky in William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Barrington Stage Company in the summer of 2004, reprised her performance off Broadway at Second Stage Theatre in January 2005, and did so again on Broadway, marking her Broadway debut in April 2005. She was nominated for her first Tony Award for her performance as Olive and received a Theatre World Award and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. She remained with the production until September 17, 2006. Her next Broadway venture would be to originate the role of Éponine in the 2006 revival of Les Misérables, playing the role from October 2006 to January 2008, earning a Drama Desk nomination in 2007. Keenan-Bolger returned off Broadway for her next productions, starring as Mary in the musical Saved at Playwrights Horizons from May to June 2008, as Katie in Bachelorette for Second Stage Theatre from July to August 2010, and as Jenny Bridges in A Small Fire from December 2010 to January 2011, once again at Playwrights Horizons. She then landed the role of Molly in New York Theatre Workshop's acclaimed production of Peter and the Starcatcher, which played the Off-Broadway venue from February to April 2011, resulting in yet another Drama Desk Award nomination, and transferred to Broadway in March 2012, leading to her second Tony Award nomination. Ahead of the Broadway premiere, Keenan-Bolger also starred as Mary Flynn in New York City Center's Encores! production of Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along in February 2012. In the fall of 2013, she took on the role of Laura Wingfield in the Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie from September 2013 to February 2014. She garnered great acclaim for her performance, winning a Drama Desk Award, earning her third Tony Award nomination, and receiving the Theatre World Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in 2014. Keenan-Bolger followed this performance with her Lincoln Center Theater debut, starring as Mother in an Off-Broadway production of Sarah Ruhl's The Oldest Boy from October to December 2014. She was next seen on Broadway as Varya, opposite Diane Lane, in Roundabout Theatre Company's 2016 revival of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, and she was last seen off Broadway in Second Stage Theatre's 2017 production of A Parallelogram.  Keenan-Bolger returned to Broadway on November 1, 2018, taking on the role of Scout in Aaron Sorkin's new stage adaptation of the classic Harper Lee novel To Kill a Mockingbird. She won her first Tony Award in the category of Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Play for her portrayal, and she ended her year-long run in the production on November 3, 2019. She leads the reopening cast of the play once more starting in October 2021. Although primarily known for her career on stage, Ms. Keenan-Bolger has also appeared in a number of high-profile television shows over the years, including Law & Order (2007), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2014), Nurse Jackie (2014), The Good Wife (2015), Elementary (2015), Good Behavior (2016), Blue Bloods (2017), NCIS: New Orleans (2017), and Bull (2018). Her film credits include Mariachi Gringo (2012), The Visit (2015), Breakable You (2017), and Diane (2018).

Jared Mezzocchi (jaredmezzocchi.com)(TW:@JaredMezzocchi) is an two-time Obie Award-winning theater artist, working most notably as a director and multimedia designer. Mezzocchi's work has appeared at theaters nationwide, including the Kennedy Center, the Geffen Playhouse, Vineyard Theater, Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth (company member), Milwaukee Rep, South Coast Rep, Portland Centerstage, and many more. In 2016, he received an Obie, Lucille Lortel and Henry Hewes Award for his work in Qui Nguyen's “Vietgone” at the Manhattan Theatre club. In 2020, the New York Times spotlighted his multimedia innovations during the pandemic alongside the work of four other theater artists, including Andrew Lloyd Webber and Paula Vogel. His work on Sarah Gancher's digital premiere of “Russian Troll Farm” (co-director & multimedia designer, and second Obie) was also celebrated as a New York Times critic pick, and praised for being one of the first digitally native successes for virtual theater. Mezzocchi is a two-time Macdowell Artist Fellow, a 2012 Princess Grace Award winner, and is an Associate Professor at The University of Maryland, where he teaches in the MFA Design program for the projection and multimedia track. He grew up in New Hampshire, and returns every summer to serve as Producing Artistic Director of Andy's Summer Playhouse, an innovative children's theater producing original work by professional artists from across the country. 

Jared Mezzocchi (jaredmezzocchi.com)(TW:@JaredMezzocchi) is an two-time Obie Award-winning theater artist, working most notably as a director and multimedia designer. Mezzocchi's work has appeared at theaters nationwide, including the Kennedy Center, the Geffen Playhouse, Vineyard Theater, Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth (company member), Milwaukee Rep, South Coast Rep, Portland Centerstage, and many more. In 2016, he received an Obie, Lucille Lortel and Henry Hewes Award for his work in Qui Nguyen's “Vietgone” at the Manhattan Theatre club. In 2020, the New York Times spotlighted his multimedia innovations during the pandemic alongside the work of four other theater artists, including Andrew Lloyd Webber and Paula Vogel. His work on Sarah Gancher's digital premiere of “Russian Troll Farm” (co-director & multimedia designer, and second Obie) was also celebrated as a New York Times critic pick, and praised for being one of the first digitally native successes for virtual theater. Mezzocchi is a two-time Macdowell Artist Fellow, a 2012 Princess Grace Award winner, and is an Associate Professor at The University of Maryland, where he teaches in the MFA Design program for the projection and multimedia track. He grew up in New Hampshire, and returns every summer to serve as Producing Artistic Director of Andy's Summer Playhouse, an innovative children's theater producing original work by professional artists from across the country. 

Keith Sherman (ksa-pr.com)(IG:@keithshermanassociates)(heliclinefineart.com) provides diversified public relations and marketing communications services to entertainment, lifestyles, special events, corporate and not-for-profit clients. From his roots on Broadway, Keith has built a distinguished reputation for over 20 years among the leaders of Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, producers, studio executives, celebrities, and artists for executing effective campaigns and consistently exceeding his clients' goals. Keith is a hands-on agency distinguished by smart strategic thinking, proactive effort, integrity, personal attention, and a passionate drive to deliver excellent results for the clients we represent.

Keith Sherman (ksa-pr.com)(IG:@keithshermanassociates)(heliclinefineart.com) provides diversified public relations and marketing communications services to entertainment, lifestyles, special events, corporate and not-for-profit clients. From his roots on Broadway, Keith has built a distinguished reputation for over 20 years among the leaders of Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, producers, studio executives, celebrities, and artists for executing effective campaigns and consistently exceeding his clients' goals. Keith is a hands-on agency distinguished by smart strategic thinking, proactive effort, integrity, personal attention, and a passionate drive to deliver excellent results for the clients we represent.

Rick Elice co-wrote Jersey Boys (winner 2006 Tony Award, 2007 Grammy Award and 2009 Olivier Award for Best Musical) with the great Marshall Brickman; The Addams Family; Peter and the Starcatcher (winner of five 2012 Tony Awards); and The Cher Show (currently on tour in the UK). In the pipeline: The Princess Bride for Disney; Smash for Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Steven Spielberg, music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, directed by Susan Stroman. Rick is also adapting Sara Gruen's novel Water for Elephants; the popular film, Silver Linings Playbook; and writing an original musical, Treasure, with 2021 Ed Kleban Award-winner Benjamin Scheuer. Rick's book, Finding Roger, An Improbably Theatrical Love Story, is published by Kingswell. Heartfelt thanks to those whose theatre work makes him grateful for the day he was born: Sondheim, Stoppard, Bennett, Prince, Fosse, Robbins, Nichols, Nunn, Laurents, Stone, Taymor, Papp, Schumacher, Schneider, David, Strong, Gaudio, Valli, McAnuff, Trujillo, Timbers, Coyne, Brickman, and, eternally, Roger Rees. Rick thinks about them a lot. He never thought about Jersey much. He does now.

Rick Elice co-wrote Jersey Boys (winner 2006 Tony Award, 2007 Grammy Award and 2009 Olivier Award for Best Musical) with the great Marshall Brickman; The Addams Family; Peter and the Starcatcher (winner of five 2012 Tony Awards); and The Cher Show (currently on tour in the UK). In the pipeline: The Princess Bride for Disney; Smash for Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Steven Spielberg, music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, directed by Susan Stroman. Rick is also adapting Sara Gruen's novel Water for Elephants; the popular film, Silver Linings Playbook; and writing an original musical, Treasure, with 2021 Ed Kleban Award-winner Benjamin Scheuer. Rick's book, Finding Roger, An Improbably Theatrical Love Story, is published by Kingswell. Heartfelt thanks to those whose theatre work makes him grateful for the day he was born: Sondheim, Stoppard, Bennett, Prince, Fosse, Robbins, Nichols, Nunn, Laurents, Stone, Taymor, Papp, Schumacher, Schneider, David, Strong, Gaudio, Valli, McAnuff, Trujillo, Timbers, Coyne, Brickman, and, eternally, Roger Rees. Rick thinks about them a lot. He never thought about Jersey much. He does now.

Alex Joseph Grayson (alexjosephgrayson.com)(IG:@alexjgsings) currently in Parade on Broadway is an actor and musician from Watertown, NY.  He accredits his eclectic artistic influences to a nomadic upbringing as a military brat. Over the last decade, Alex has performed on the biggest stages of the American theatre, including Broadway, National Tours, and several Regional theaters.  Alex previously acted as lead vocalist of the metal band “Ten Thousand Pounds.” 

Alex Joseph Grayson (alexjosephgrayson.com)(IG:@alexjgsings) currently in Parade on Broadway is an actor and musician from Watertown, NY.  He accredits his eclectic artistic influences to a nomadic upbringing as a military brat. Over the last decade, Alex has performed on the biggest stages of the American theatre, including Broadway, National Tours, and several Regional theaters.  Alex previously acted as lead vocalist of the metal band “Ten Thousand Pounds.” 

Paul Alexander Nolan (paulalexandernolan.com)(IG:@paulalexandernolan) who is currently in Parade The Musical on Broadway, is originally from Canada, where much of his career has been spent as a company member of the Stratford Festival. Since moving to New York he's led seven Broadway productions including Jesus Christ Superstar; Once; Doctor Zhivago; Bright Star; Chicago; Escape to Margaritaville and Slave Play. He originated the role of Jim in Slave Play at NYTW, on Broadway and at The Taper in Los Angeles. TV credits include The Code; Madam Secretary and Instinct for CBS. Paul is currently collaborating on a concept album about isolation entitled T+L. 

Paul Alexander Nolan (paulalexandernolan.com)(IG:@paulalexandernolan) who is currently in Parade The Musical on Broadway, is originally from Canada, where much of his career has been spent as a company member of the Stratford Festival. Since moving to New York he's led seven Broadway productions including Jesus Christ Superstar; Once; Doctor Zhivago; Bright Star; Chicago; Escape to Margaritaville and Slave Play. He originated the role of Jim in Slave Play at NYTW, on Broadway and at The Taper in Los Angeles. TV credits include The Code; Madam Secretary and Instinct for CBS. Paul is currently collaborating on a concept album about isolation entitled T+L. 

Jessica Ryan (IG:@jessicaryannyla)(LI:@jessicaryannyla)(alltogethernow.live)(broadwayunlocked.com) is an award-winning “wacky genius” at the intersection of technology and live experiences. She has been the go-to Broadcast Director for Broadway's live simulcasts since 2013, including Between Riverside and Crazy starring Common, Clyde's starring Uzo Aduba, Maestra's Amplify concert, hosted by Kate Baldwin, Freestyle Love Supreme+ Live at the Waldorf and Broadway Unlocked's The #Giveback Concert. She brings an extensive theatrical experience to her digital work in the arts, including sharing the stage with Donna McKechnie, Everett Quinton (Ridiculous Theatre Company), Christianne Noll, Paige Davis, Jeff Still and more. Her groundbreaking work has been featured at Talks at Google, The New York Times and Deadline and is at the root of her company, All Together Now. The Live Digital and Immersive Studio brings Jess's wealth of creative experience and strategy for livestreams to brands, via branded content, direct to consumer sports & entertainment, employee engagement and social impact events for companies like Smithsonian Magazine, EY, Columbia Business School, NYCLU & more. Passionate about bridging the gap between entertainment and entrepreneurship, she frequently hosts and moderates conferences and conversations for purpose and passion-led companies. Partners include 3BL Media, Seenit, Badassery, Idealist and her podcast Take Me To Coffee with Hamilton's Andrew Call. Jess also actively supports the work of several non-profits that provide services and access for marginalized communities including Crime Victims Treatment Center, Ring of Keys, Scholarship Plus, Maestra and Arts Workers United.

Jessica Ryan (IG:@jessicaryannyla)(LI:@jessicaryannyla)(alltogethernow.live)(broadwayunlocked.com) is an award-winning “wacky genius” at the intersection of technology and live experiences. She has been the go-to Broadcast Director for Broadway's live simulcasts since 2013, including Between Riverside and Crazy starring Common, Clyde's starring Uzo Aduba, Maestra's Amplify concert, hosted by Kate Baldwin, Freestyle Love Supreme+ Live at the Waldorf and Broadway Unlocked's The #Giveback Concert. She brings an extensive theatrical experience to her digital work in the arts, including sharing the stage with Donna McKechnie, Everett Quinton (Ridiculous Theatre Company), Christianne Noll, Paige Davis, Jeff Still and more. Her groundbreaking work has been featured at Talks at Google, The New York Times and Deadline and is at the root of her company, All Together Now. The Live Digital and Immersive Studio brings Jess's wealth of creative experience and strategy for livestreams to brands, via branded content, direct to consumer sports & entertainment, employee engagement and social impact events for companies like Smithsonian Magazine, EY, Columbia Business School, NYCLU & more. Passionate about bridging the gap between entertainment and entrepreneurship, she frequently hosts and moderates conferences and conversations for purpose and passion-led companies. Partners include 3BL Media, Seenit, Badassery, Idealist and her podcast Take Me To Coffee with Hamilton's Andrew Call. Jess also actively supports the work of several non-profits that provide services and access for marginalized communities including Crime Victims Treatment Center, Ring of Keys, Scholarship Plus, Maestra and Arts Workers United.

Tom Gabbard (blumenthalarts.org)(IG:@tomgabbard) has been CEO of Blumenthal Performing Arts since 2003. The Blumenthal's 110 employees manage six theaters in Charlotte, hosting over 1,000 performances annually, as well as extensive education programs, immersive projects, and the Charlotte International Arts Festival. During his tenure, the Blumenthal became a Top 10 market for touring Broadway shows in North America.   A member of the Board of Governors of the Broadway League, he serves on the Legislative Council and Finance and Intra-Industry Committees. He has been a voter for Broadway's Tony Awards since 1997. In 2022, the League awarded Tom with Lifetime Tony Award Voter status.  In 2012 the League awarded him the Samuel J. L'Hommedieu Award for Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management.  He serves as co-chair of The Jimmy Awards, the National High School Musical Theatre Awards held annually on Broadway. Tom is a Past President of the Independent Presenters Network (IPN), a consortium of 40 leading touring Broadway presenters in North America, Asia, and the UK. Tony Awards as a co-producer/investor include Monty Python's Spamalot, Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage aux Folles, RED, Pippin, Kinky Boots, The Color Purple Revival, Hello Dolly, Dear Evan Hansen, The Band's Visit, Oklahoma!, Hadestown, A Strange Loop, and Lehman Trilogy. Other Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tour and London West End credits include Moulin Rouge, Ain't Too Proud, David Byrne's American Utopia, Death of a Salesman, Tootsie, Legally Blonde, Frost/Nixon, Matilda, Cinderella, Jagged Little Pill, Something Rotten, An American in Paris, Waitress, The Broadway Museum, and Back to the Future. He produced the New York run and the national tour of TRACES, and the national tour of 9 to 5. Tom is a leader in developing partnerships between the UK and US, working on over 25 UK/US transfers and London productions.  He was the Founding Managing Director of Pepperdine University's Center for the Arts in Malibu, the Executive Director of the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities in Denver, and the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts in Green Bay. He holds an MBA in Arts Management from Golden Gate University and a BA in Music Performance from Pepperdine University where he also attended Law School.

Tom Gabbard (blumenthalarts.org)(IG:@tomgabbard) has been CEO of Blumenthal Performing Arts since 2003. The Blumenthal's 110 employees manage six theaters in Charlotte, hosting over 1,000 performances annually, as well as extensive education programs, immersive projects, and the Charlotte International Arts Festival. During his tenure, the Blumenthal became a Top 10 market for touring Broadway shows in North America.   A member of the Board of Governors of the Broadway League, he serves on the Legislative Council and Finance and Intra-Industry Committees. He has been a voter for Broadway's Tony Awards since 1997. In 2022, the League awarded Tom with Lifetime Tony Award Voter status.  In 2012 the League awarded him the Samuel J. L'Hommedieu Award for Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management.  He serves as co-chair of The Jimmy Awards, the National High School Musical Theatre Awards held annually on Broadway. Tom is a Past President of the Independent Presenters Network (IPN), a consortium of 40 leading touring Broadway presenters in North America, Asia, and the UK. Tony Awards as a co-producer/investor include Monty Python's Spamalot, Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage aux Folles, RED, Pippin, Kinky Boots, The Color Purple Revival, Hello Dolly, Dear Evan Hansen, The Band's Visit, Oklahoma!, Hadestown, A Strange Loop, and Lehman Trilogy. Other Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tour and London West End credits include Moulin Rouge, Ain't Too Proud, David Byrne's American Utopia, Death of a Salesman, Tootsie, Legally Blonde, Frost/Nixon, Matilda, Cinderella, Jagged Little Pill, Something Rotten, An American in Paris, Waitress, The Broadway Museum, and Back to the Future. He produced the New York run and the national tour of TRACES, and the national tour of 9 to 5. Tom is a leader in developing partnerships between the UK and US, working on over 25 UK/US transfers and London productions.  He was the Founding Managing Director of Pepperdine University's Center for the Arts in Malibu, the Executive Director of the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities in Denver, and the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts in Green Bay. He holds an MBA in Arts Management from Golden Gate University and a BA in Music Performance from Pepperdine University where he also attended Law School.

Andy Einhorn (LI:@andy-einhorn) has directed concerts with the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. He has worked as the Music Supervisor and Musical Director for the Broadway productions of Carousel and Hello Dolly!  Einhorn's previous Broadway credits include Holiday Inn, Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, Evita, Brief Encounter, The Light in the Piazza, and Sondheim on Sondheim. He recently served as music director and conductor for the Châtelet Theatre's production of Sondheim's Passion in Paris and Einhorn made his New York Philharmonic debut with world-renowned trumpeter Chris Botti. Since 2011 Einhorn has served as music director and pianist for Six-Time Tony Award Winner, Audra McDonald, performing with her at such prestigious orchestras and venues including The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera, Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Teatro Real, Madrid. They recently recorded performances for an upcoming telecast with the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Einhorn has also music directed for Barbara Cook at Feinstein's and Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music. His tour work includes Sweeney Todd, The Light in the Piazza, Mamma Mia!, and The Lion King. Einhorn's work can be heard on the current touring production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. Einhorn has worked at Goodspeed Opera House, Signature Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and PaperMill Playhouse. He was principal vocal coach and pianist for Houston Grand Opera's An Evening with Audra McDonald, a double-bill of Poulenc's La Voix Humaine and LaChiusa's Send. Recording credits include Bullets Over Broadway, Cinderella, Evita, Sondheim on Sondheim (Grammy Nom) Stage Door Canteen and McDonald's newest release, Go Back Home. He served as the music director for HBO's Peabody Award winning documentary Six by Sondheim and music supervisor for Great Performances Peabody Award winning special “Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy” on PBS. Andy Einhorn is an honors graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas.

Andy Einhorn (LI:@andy-einhorn) has directed concerts with the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. He has worked as the Music Supervisor and Musical Director for the Broadway productions of Carousel and Hello Dolly!  Einhorn's previous Broadway credits include Holiday Inn, Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, Evita, Brief Encounter, The Light in the Piazza, and Sondheim on Sondheim. He recently served as music director and conductor for the Châtelet Theatre's production of Sondheim's Passion in Paris and Einhorn made his New York Philharmonic debut with world-renowned trumpeter Chris Botti. Since 2011 Einhorn has served as music director and pianist for Six-Time Tony Award Winner, Audra McDonald, performing with her at such prestigious orchestras and venues including The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera, Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Teatro Real, Madrid. They recently recorded performances for an upcoming telecast with the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Einhorn has also music directed for Barbara Cook at Feinstein's and Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music. His tour work includes Sweeney Todd, The Light in the Piazza, Mamma Mia!, and The Lion King. Einhorn's work can be heard on the current touring production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. Einhorn has worked at Goodspeed Opera House, Signature Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and PaperMill Playhouse. He was principal vocal coach and pianist for Houston Grand Opera's An Evening with Audra McDonald, a double-bill of Poulenc's La Voix Humaine and LaChiusa's Send. Recording credits include Bullets Over Broadway, Cinderella, Evita, Sondheim on Sondheim (Grammy Nom) Stage Door Canteen and McDonald's newest release, Go Back Home. He served as the music director for HBO's Peabody Award winning documentary Six by Sondheim and music supervisor for Great Performances Peabody Award winning special “Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy” on PBS. Andy Einhorn is an honors graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas.

Anant Das (LI:@anantdas)Founder of Broadway Boxed Up, Broadway and Film Producer and Investor, and Financial Valuation Senior Associate at PwC in Manhattan. Interested in the business and production side of Broadway, Tech, Finance, Real Estate, and all things UVA Basketball. Graduate of the University of Virginia -- Studied Commerce (Finance, Management, & Real Estate) and Computer Science. Graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology -- a STEM-focused HS consistently ranked the #1 public high school in the US. Proud to continue to give back to the University of Virginia serving as Secretary of the University's Young Alumni Council, on the McIntire Young Alumni Council, and as a member of the Rotunda Society. Also proud Treasurer of the TJ Alumni Action Group, working to make a more equitable experience for underrepresented students in STEM.

Anant Das (LI:@anantdas)Founder of Broadway Boxed Up, Broadway and Film Producer and Investor, and Financial Valuation Senior Associate at PwC in Manhattan. Interested in the business and production side of Broadway, Tech, Finance, Real Estate, and all things UVA Basketball. Graduate of the University of Virginia -- Studied Commerce (Finance, Management, & Real Estate) and Computer Science. Graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology -- a STEM-focused HS consistently ranked the #1 public high school in the US. Proud to continue to give back to the University of Virginia serving as Secretary of the University's Young Alumni Council, on the McIntire Young Alumni Council, and as a member of the Rotunda Society. Also proud Treasurer of the TJ Alumni Action Group, working to make a more equitable experience for underrepresented students in STEM.

Beth Leavel (bethleavel.net) is a Tony Award-winning stage and screen actor. She recently starred as Miranda Priestly in the Broadway-bound new musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, directed by Anna Shapiro and featuring music by Sir Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and a book by Kate Wetherhead. Most recently, Beth was seen on Broadway as Dee Dee Allen in The Prom, for which she was nominated for Tony, New York Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards. She received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and LA Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Beth also received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for her role as Florence Greenberg in Baby, It's You. On Broadway, Beth also originated the roles of June Adams in Bandstand, Emily in Elf, Mrs. Bixby in The Civil War and Tess in Crazy For You. Other Broadway credits include Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, Dorothy Brock in the revival of 42nd Street, Ellie in Hal Prince's Show Boat, and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street. Other New York credits include starring as Lucille in the New York City Center Encores! production of No, No, Nanette, as well as the off-Broadway productions of Lone Star Love and Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. Regionally, Beth has performed some of the most iconic roles in musical theatre – from Mama Rose in Gypsy at The Muny and Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly at Cape Playhouse and The Muny, to Sally Adams in Call Me Madam at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, the Witch in Into the Woods at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and Miss Hannigan in Annie at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Beth has dazzled and delighted sold-out audiences with her cabaret act, which she has taken from 54 Below in New York City to other venues across the United States. You might also recognize Beth from numerous commercials and TV shows/films, including Ghosts of Christmas Always, The Bite, Walking Dead: World Beyond and the final episode of ER. She holds an MFA and an honorary PhD from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Of all the roles she has played, on stage and off, Beth is most proud of being T.J. and Sam's mom. She is helplessly in love with her fiancé, Adam Heller, and thanks her cat, Malcolm, for keeping her sane during the pandemic.

Beth Leavel (bethleavel.net) is a Tony Award-winning stage and screen actor. She recently starred as Miranda Priestly in the Broadway-bound new musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, directed by Anna Shapiro and featuring music by Sir Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and a book by Kate Wetherhead. Most recently, Beth was seen on Broadway as Dee Dee Allen in The Prom, for which she was nominated for Tony, New York Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards. She received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and LA Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Beth also received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for her role as Florence Greenberg in Baby, It's You. On Broadway, Beth also originated the roles of June Adams in Bandstand, Emily in Elf, Mrs. Bixby in The Civil War and Tess in Crazy For You. Other Broadway credits include Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia!, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, Dorothy Brock in the revival of 42nd Street, Ellie in Hal Prince's Show Boat, and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street. Other New York credits include starring as Lucille in the New York City Center Encores! production of No, No, Nanette, as well as the off-Broadway productions of Lone Star Love and Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. Regionally, Beth has performed some of the most iconic roles in musical theatre – from Mama Rose in Gypsy at The Muny and Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly at Cape Playhouse and The Muny, to Sally Adams in Call Me Madam at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, the Witch in Into the Woods at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and Miss Hannigan in Annie at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Beth has dazzled and delighted sold-out audiences with her cabaret act, which she has taken from 54 Below in New York City to other venues across the United States. You might also recognize Beth from numerous commercials and TV shows/films, including Ghosts of Christmas Always, The Bite, Walking Dead: World Beyond and the final episode of ER. She holds an MFA and an honorary PhD from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Of all the roles she has played, on stage and off, Beth is most proud of being T.J. and Sam's mom. She is helplessly in love with her fiancé, Adam Heller, and thanks her cat, Malcolm, for keeping her sane during the pandemic.

Charlie H. Ray (IG:@charliehray)(TW:@charliehray)(neverbeking.com)(LI:@charliehray) is the co-creator of Never Be King: "Another" new musical. 

Charlie H. Ray (IG:@charliehray)(TW:@charliehray)(neverbeking.com)(LI:@charliehray) is the co-creator of Never Be King: "Another" new musical. 

Samuel W. Gailey (samuelwgailey.com) was raised in a small town in northeast Pennsylvania (population 379) and now resides on remote Orcas Island. His writing has been compared to Steinbeck and Cormac McCarthy and been praised by the NY Times, Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus, Esquire and more. His novels are intriguing studies of human nature and portray how the simplest twist of fate can alter and shatter lives. His central characters are flawed but deserving of redemption. Internationally, his novels, The Guilt We Carry (Une Question de Temps) and Deep Winter have been translated into French by Gallmeister Editions. Gallmeister, devoted to the translation of American literature, publishes authors Gabriel Talent (My Absolute Darling), Craig Johnson (Longmire), Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove), Larry Watson (Montana 1948), and Kurt Vonnegut.

Samuel W. Gailey (samuelwgailey.com) was raised in a small town in northeast Pennsylvania (population 379) and now resides on remote Orcas Island. His writing has been compared to Steinbeck and Cormac McCarthy and been praised by the NY Times, Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus, Esquire and more. His novels are intriguing studies of human nature and portray how the simplest twist of fate can alter and shatter lives. His central characters are flawed but deserving of redemption. Internationally, his novels, The Guilt We Carry (Une Question de Temps) and Deep Winter have been translated into French by Gallmeister Editions. Gallmeister, devoted to the translation of American literature, publishes authors Gabriel Talent (My Absolute Darling), Craig Johnson (Longmire), Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove), Larry Watson (Montana 1948), and Kurt Vonnegut.